Pay your balance in full. "If you don't pay your card off on time each month, a reward credit card might not be for you, because most have higher interest rates than traditional cards," says Brixey. Plus, you generally need to pay your entire balance in order to receive reward points. If you tend to carry debt, try a reward debit card instead. The Cash Bonus Visa Check Card, for example, allows you to earn cash back at a select group of retailers.

Stay loyal. Replace your current card with your new reward card, and use it exclusively, recommends Brixey. Using only one card helps you keep tabs on your spending as you rack up points. "To garner even more rewards, use the card to pay for your routine spending, such as utilities and car insurance," she says.

Get your money's worth. Many reward cards have an annual fee, so be sure that you intend to spend enough over the course of the year to make up for the cost of having the card, says Brixey. For instance, if a cash-back reward card has a $29 annual fee for 1 percent cash back on all purchases, you'd need to charge a minimum of $2,900 annually to break even.

Find rewards that fit you. Most rewards entail travel or gift certificates, but there are also savings-plan cards, such as the Futuretrust MasterCard, which invests 1 percent of your purchases into a 529 college savings account. Check out cardratings.com
to find the right card for you.